Base Kodiak command handed to Jeffrey Westling During the Coast guard change of command ceremony on Tuesday, Captain Jeffrey C. Westling promised a “nimble” operation as he took the helm of Coast Guard Base Kodiak. Westling expressed amazement with the Coast Guard in all of Alaska for what he called its “proficiency with which you accomplish your mission, your professionalism while serving our shipmates, operational partners, families and community, and your p...

Dunbar prepares for final NCAA ChampionshipsAfter missing last year’s NCAA Division I Track and Field Championship because of injuries, Trevor Dunbar is ready to tear up his home track. Five years ago, Dunbar graduated from Kodiak High School as the top runner in Alaska. Now, the University of Oregon senior is hoping to end his college career as one of the top runners in the nation. The NCAA Track and Field Championships begin today at historic Hayward Fiel...

Summer roadwork rolls on in KodiakPlanners expect the various road resurfacing projects on the island to finish up in August, although much of the work for the time being is jumping in between projects as pavement cools. The work on Spruce Cape and Island Lake are part of the overall Kodiak Area Roads Preservation Project, a $6.7 million project directed by the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. “Right now we’re cu...

Old-growth spruce destroyed at research siteThis spring, John Yarie learned of the death of the oldest living things he knew. Since 1988, the silviculture professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks had measured and fertilized a stand of giant spruce trees on a hillside south of Fairbanks. A few weeks ago, forest technicians visited the site and found that one dozen trees had been cut down, possibly by "wood poachers." "I'm just really disappointed some...

Alaskan congressional delegation reports research grantsThe Alaska Congressional Delegation reported Tuesday that the National Science Foundation gave some $9.2 million in five new grants to Alaskan research organizations. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Mark Begich, and Representative Don Young put out a joint statement listing the bodies receiving the NSF grants. The grants were as follows: • $7,315,833 to the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States for “An Arctic C...

Maritime workforce plan identifies priority occupations A recent state and university study reported that Alaska ranks third in the nation in per capita maritime with 70,000 total jobs in Alaska. The maritime industry includes seafood harvesters, processors, marine occupations, support jobs and research, enhancement and management. Maritime industry groups, along with five state agencies and the University of Alaska, worked together for two years to develop a strategic...

Pipeline training offered in Fairbanks this fallThe plumbers and pipefitters union offers pipeline welding training in Fairbanks for Alaskans from all over. The Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center and Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 375 are jointly offering a free 18-week course in advanced pipeline welding. The training begins on Aug. 4 and ends on Dec. 5. Open schedules during that time period will be necessary because the classes are Monday through Friday from...

Anton Larsen dock gets design OK, borough eyes 2015 finishA new, possibly larger replacement dock at Anton Larsen Bay could be completed in the latter half of 2015, and would most likely employ an out-of-town construction company to do the precision build necessary for the much-needed facility. The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly approved the design for a new dock at its regular meeting on Thursday. The assembly voted 6-0 to give Jensen Yorba Lott of Juneau a term contrac...

Kodiak Island Births: June 10• Finnian Michael Robert Koehler was born at 1:03 a.m. May 31, 2014, to Elizabeth Meghan Johns and Michael Farley Koehler. He weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 19.5 inches long. His parents are originally from Michigan City, Indiana and now live in Kodiak. His father is in the Coast Guard stationed at Airstation Kodiak. The grandparents are Genny and Jeff Koehler from Michigan City, Indiana and Patricia and...

High school sports’ top 10 momentsAs the last out in the softball and baseball state tournament brought the 2013-2014 high school sports season to an end, it made one think: What a year it was for Kodiak High School. Here are the top 10 stories of the school year as judged by Daily Mirror sports reporter Derek Clarkston. 10. Year of the coaches Kodiak had a remarkable cadre of coaches of the year. Earning awards were: John Lindquist (swimming), Am...